Macedonia files criminal complaints after 12‑year‑old beaten in Skopje’s Aerodrom district

The Macedonian Ministry of Internal Affairs announced criminal complaints against the parents and two minors who physically assaulted a 12‑year‑old girl in the Aerodrom suburb of Skopje. The attack, captured on video by other youths, involved a 14‑year‑old aggressor forcing the victim to kneel and apologise before a second assault. Police have identified the perpetrators and are pursuing charges.

The incident sparked widespread outrage on social media, prompting calls for harsher punishments for juvenile offenders and greater parental responsibility. UNICEF data show that 23 % of Macedonian youth aged 13‑15 have experienced peer violence, and one‑third report online harassment. Victims such as Kiki Mukaitova have shared personal accounts, urging other children not to stay silent and demanding stronger institutional responses.

Authorities are under pressure to increase school safety, improve monitoring, and ensure transparent handling of such cases, as the country records dozens of inter‑student violence incidents each year.